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CMKP on the question of Maoism

The question as to the position of the CMKP has come up several times in the last few weeks on our forum. First a comrade from abroad asked about our position on Maoism, and then the CPP remarked that the CMKP was a “Moaist Party” and that this constituted the main difference between the two parties. This means that we are somewhat obliged to make a statement about our position on the question of Maoism.

Let us begin with the facts.

CMKP was formed in 1994 as a result of a merger between the pro-soviet CPP and the pro-Chinese MKP. The very fact of this merger indicates that neither the CPP nor did the MKP suffer the kind of violent antagonisms that occurred in West Bengal or other parts of the world between pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese parties.

When the CMKP emerged, its main aim was to ensure that those who continued to adhere to the ideas of communism were organized against the extreme right-wing ideological assault of neo-liberal capitalism. But how was such a merger possible given the irreconcilability of this split in the context of other countries. The merger became possible mainly because of a sense of desperation and isolation that existed at the time, and secondly because of the fact that despite their differences the CPP and MKP were on the same side of the fence on the two most important issues in the context of Pakistan.

1) Unlike other “Maoists” who used the international alignment of Ayub Khan with the PRC to justify a pro-establishment policy, the MKP and CPP were both in the “anti-Ayub” camp.

2) Afghan revolution: The MKP had a very different position of the Afghan Revolution than the Maoist movement internationally or in Afghanistan. Whereas, Maoists did not recognize the Saur Revolution as a “revolution” (they denounce it as a military coup), the MKP supported the Saur Revolution and was seen as aligned with Noor Mohammed Taraki. Later, although the MKP denounced the “Soviet Invasion” it nonetheless remained aligned with the Khalq faction of the PDPA (as opposed to being aligned with the Sholai–Maoists).

For me personally, it is becoming increasingly clear that while the Soviet Union collapsed from revisionism, the anti-revisionist movement collapsed from a fatal case of ultra-leftism. Unfortunately, when battle lines are drawn (even if these battle lines are ideological) many people become more interested in the victory of their faction rather than a victory of science.

More on all this later…

In solidarity
Taimur Rahman

(PS. I have decided to write with my real name because the use of my hero’s name (Hassan Nasir) was causing too much confusion over a triviality. Also, please beware that some people are using my account to send viruses in the past few days)